Chapter 134: Keeping her company

Tom waited behind at the restaurant to finish his meal properly after unlocking the rewards, and simply watching the scenery with a contented heart.

He kept the bracelet from the harem chest back in his inventory, having no use for it until later.

It was well past 9pm before he finally gone back home. He had believed that Sienna would be in her bedroom by that time, but the living room lights were still on. Sienna sat near the center table with folders open in front of her, while Rosemary stood gathering her bag and tablet. From the spread of papers and the half-finished cups on the side tray, they had clearly been working from home for some time and had chosen the living room to do that.

Tom stepped in and stopped long enough to greet them.

"Good evening," he said simply.

Sienna looked up properly at him and replied the greeting quietly. Rosemary inclined her head politely and replied too.

"Good night, sir." Rosemary said to him after she finished collecting her things and headed out. Tom who wasn’t used to that exchange of greetings from people around Sienna didn’t even hear it as he had already turned toward the hallway, ready to go straight to his room, but Sienna’s voice stopped him.

"Erm... Do you have a moment, please?."

He looked back.

She had risen halfway from her seat, one hand resting against the edge of the table. Her free blouse was still neat from the day, though the hours of work showed in the slight fatigue around her eyes. Even so, she held herself carefully, as if whatever she was about to say needed composure more than softness.

"I had something to tell you during breakfast but you left in a hurry and didn’t stay for it." she said.

Tom paused then replayed the event of the morning in his head, his eyes twitched as he remembered;

"Ah. Yeah. My schedule was tight today."

He did not mention the missed breakfast itself. He simply asked, "What did you want to talk about?"

Sienna smoothed one folder shut before answering, a small action that gave her hands something to do. "As part of the public image work, we need to be seen together more often." Her eyes lifted to his face. "Would you be available for lunch tomorrow?" She added quickly, before he could refuse on instinct, "My PR officer said it should be somewhere very public."

Tom looked at her for a second. The request was simple but the way she watched him for the answer betrayed how much weight she had already placed on it.

"I’ll ask my personal assistant to check my schedule. I’ll get back to you before I sleep." he replied.

Sienna blinked, then nodded. "Okay."

She kept her expression calm, though disappointment still threatened the stillness of her mouth. She did not want to look affected by how unavailable he seemed. Tom left the exchange there and continued to his room.

As soon as he got Inside, he set his phone on the bed, went to shower, changed into something lighter, and only then sat down properly with the day behind him. He messaged Bree first, asking for his full schedule tomorrow. That part was simple. The next thought was not.

Josie.

If he wanted the recruitment to move, he could not appear only when there was a crisis to solve. Bonding mattered too. With that thought, he dialed her number.

The first call rang out.

He frowned lightly, waited, then called again.

This time she picked up, but her voice was dull from the first word.

"Hey, Is everything fine?" he asked.

"Yeah."

"That doesn’t sound like your usual voice." Tom sat up straight where he was seated.

There was a short silence on the line. Then Josie said, "I’m not fine at the moment. But I will be."

The System opened just as the words finished leaving her mouth, as if on cue!

```

[SIDE MISSION AVAILABLE]

Keep Josie’s company and make her feel settled.

Reward:

• $100,000

Accept / Reject?

```

Tom accepted immediately. The money was useful, but the real value was the opening. He knew a mission like this could move her meters if he handled it properly.

He cleared his throat and began calmly;

"If you want I can stay on the phone so you’re not alone. Or I can come out and keep you company."

"No, There’s no need for either." She said and stayed quiet but she did not end the call.

Tom did not end it either.

For a while, neither of them spoke. The line simply stayed quietly open between them. Tom stared at the wardrobe facing where he was seated as he waited, letting the silence do part of the work. After a moment, he spoke up;

"I’m still here."

Josie exhaled, but gave him no reply.

Tom searched for the next useful thing to say. Before he found it, Josie spoke again.

"Why did you call in the first place?"

Tom adjusted his approach at once. Soft, but not foolishly romantic; "Actually..." He let that sat for a heartbeat before continuing;

"I kept thinking about the dinner, so I called to thank you. The place you chose was excellent, and seeing you across the table was a quiet motivation." He paused briefly. "I hadn’t had much appetite for a few days, but sitting there with you settled me enough to eat properly. I’m grateful for that." he concluded and his eyes blinked at the end, because even he was slightly surprised at how easily he had found the words and how smoothly they rolled out.

Josie was quiet for a second. "I didn’t know I helped you in any way."

"You did. That’s not something money buys. So if something is wrong on your side, and there’s any way I can return the help, I will." he maintained firmly.

Another silence stretched out.

Then Josie said, "It’s personal. I’d rather keep it to myself. Thank you anyway."

"I understand and I respect that." He said gently then added more gentler;

"Just remember one thing. Whatever it is, morning still comes after the darkness. It won’t stay like this forever."

"Thanks." Josie replied quietly.

Then the line grew awkward after that, emptied of easy direction. Tom stared at the opposite wall for a moment and turned inward. He turned to the system;

’I need something to say. I’m out of ideas.’

[Host wants to buy ideas? Then you will pay.] the System answered.

’How much?’

[Ten thousand dollars.]

Tom accepted without hesitation.

And immediately, a panel opened in front of his eyes with a written suggestion. The moment he read it, his eyes widened slightly.

’What?’

[What was Host expecting from a perverted system?] the System teased.

Tom scoffed under his breath. ’Nothing less.’

He read the idea again and swallowed hard.

[Trust it. Shoot at it.] the System said confidently.

Tom blinked and heaved a slow, heavy sigh, calculating where to start from.

The idea couldn’t be delivered in a rush. And it even required some acting.

...